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Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill

Ash Regan MSP introduced this Member’s Bill. The Bill creates a new offence of paying for sexual acts. It also repeals the existing offence of soliciting or importuning by prostitutes.

This is a Member's bill

The Bill was introduced on 20 May 2025 and is at Stage 1

Introduced: the Bill and its documents

Overview

The Bill creates a new offence of paying for sexual acts.

The Bill also repeals the existing offence under section 46 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 of soliciting and importuning by prostitutes. People who have been convicted of this offence in the past would have their convictions quashed. 

Additionally, Scottish Ministers will need to ensure that a person who is, or has been, in prostitution is provided with help and support. That may include accommodation, financial assistance, healthcare or legal advice and representation. 

Why the Bill was created

The Member believes that prostitution is exploiting and harming women in Scotland. She has introduced the Bill as she believes it will reduce the amount of prostitution in Scotland.

Accompanying Documents

Explanatory Notes (147KB, pdf) posted 21 May 2025

Policy Memorandum (534KB, pdf) posted 21 May 2025

Financial Memorandum (310KB, pdf) posted 21 May 2025

Delegated Powers Memorandum (137KB, pdf) posted 21 May 2025

Statements on legislative competence (108KB, pdf) posted 21 May 2025

Accompanying Documents (print versions)

Explanatory Notes (211KB, pdf) posted 20 May 2025

Policy Memorandum (580KB, pdf) posted 20 May 2025

Financial Memorandum (357KB, pdf) posted 20 May 2025

Delegated Powers Memorandum (213KB, pdf) posted 20 May 2025

Statements on legislative competence (159KB, pdf) posted 20 May 2025

Research on the Bill

The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.

Research briefing on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill

The Bill was introduced on 20 May 2025

Stage 1: general principles

At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.

Lead committee examines the Bill

The lead committee for this Bill is the Criminal Justice Committee.

Timetable

The Committee has agreed the following schedule of work for scrutiny of the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1. It may be subject to change depending on the availability of witnesses and other parliamentary business.

The Committee recognises that there is a great deal of interest in this Bill, with many organisations and individuals keen to give evidence in person. The planned schedule of work seeks to balance the need to hear a range of views on the key provisions of the Bill with a desire by the Committee to ensure that the Bill could proceed through all its stages in the time remaining in this parliamentary session, should the Bill pass at Stage 1. The Committee will also draw upon the written evidence received to inform its scrutiny.

The Committee is determined to hear from current or former prostitutes/sex workers as part of its scrutiny and is considering the best way to facilitate this. This evidence will be in addition to the schedule set out below.

8 October

Campaigning bodies and organisations who provide support and advice to current or former prostitutes/sex workers. Groups selected will cover a range of views on the key provisions in the Bill, such as on the creation of a new offence of paying for the performance of a sexual act by a person.

29 October

International examples of different approaches taken.

5 November

Law enforcement, judicial system and legal bodies.

12 November

Scottish Government

19 November

Member-in-charge

Call for views (closed)

The Criminal Justice Committee held a call for views to help inform its scrutiny of the Bill. The call for views closed on Friday 5 September 2025.

Read the submissions on Citizen Space

Meetings of the lead committee

Correspondence: lead committee

Supplementary information on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill

Letter from Ash Regan MSP to the Convener, 9 September 2025

Update following evidence session on 25 June 2025

Correspondence from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety, 29 July 2025

Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill

Letter from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety to the Convener, 23 June 2025

Stage 1 report by the lead committee

The lead committee will publish a Stage 1 report before the debate on the general principles.

Work by other committees

Finance and Public Administration Committee